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February 28, 2008
Two Fighting Generals
General John J. Pershing
The Hamas covenant gleefully borrows from the notorious Protocols of the Elders of Zion and states that Jews were behind World War I, World War II, international Communism, capitalism and, sigh, Zionism, hence, concludes the official charter of the Palestinian people, the State of Israel must be destroyed and replaced by an Islamic State to be ruled by Sharia. The covenant calls for the death of all Jews, not just in Israel, but everywhere.
The Palestinian people voted overwhelmingly for this genocidal platform. The State of Israel, in effect, ratified this program by expelling every single Jew from Gaza, thereby making yet another—count 'em 23—Arab-Muslim state Judenrein.
Some push the notion of negotiating with Hamas, but guess what, the Hamas covenant clearly says that all negotiations are simply a tactic of jihad whose real goal is the annihilation of the Jewish State.
Okay, not a lot of wiggle room with genociders.
So: let's move on to basic warfare.
How would America respond to terrorists on its own borders?
Bret Stephens has the answer in his fine Wall Street Journal piece: The S'derot Calculus:
On March 9, 1916, Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa attacked the border town of Columbus, N.M., killing 18 Americans. President Woodrow Wilson ordered Gen. John J. Pershing and 10,000 soldiers into Mexico for nearly a year to hunt Villa down, in what was explicitly called a “punitive expedition.” Pershing never found Villa, making the effort something of a failure. Then again, Villa’s raid would be the last significant foreign attack on continental U.S. soil for 85 years, six months and two days.
The citizens of Gaza attack Israel through various proxie armies and then claim to be innocent bystanders.
This can no longer be tolerated.
General Effie Eitam
General Effie Eitam, an Israeli hero, former commander of the IDF in South Lebanon, is the leader of the National Union-National Religious Party.
During the expulsion of 9,000 Jews from their homes in Gaza, Eitam defied the Israeli government and brought his wife and children into Gush Katif to witness and share the unbearable burden of Jews being expelled from their homes by fellow Jews.
Let's hear what this special man has to say about Gaza:
"The Hamas regime in Gaza can boast of one significant achievement—it managed to unite leftists and rightists in Israel. Both myself and Kadima's Haim Ramon understand that we need to act decisively and firmly in order to topple Hamas.
If the past we heard calls in the center of the political map urging talks with Hamas, its brutal attacks on Sderot residents led almost everyone to adopt the same view, and I also hope that it would lead to united deeds that have two aims: Military acts against Qassam launchers and their masters, and making it clear to the Gaza civilian population that electing a terror group to represent them is the main punishment they must bear.
The State of Israel left Gaza and provided its residents with a historic opportunity to elect their leadership — and they elected a radical, belligerent terror group that is Israel's most bitter enemy. And now, as was the case with many peoples throughout history, they are paying the price of their decision. It is immoral and impossible to task us with bearing even some of the price for their mistake.
Never before in history have we seen an entity that enjoyed impunity in the face of self-defense actions of the side under attack. Hamas declared a war on its neighbor with no discrimination between military and civilian targets, and with no provocation on our part. Yet we do not punish Gaza's residents; we merely realize our right for self-defense while facing a situation that is as clear, simple, and just as it gets.
The question of whether residents of Dresden had to bear the price for electing Hitler to lead them, or whether the residents of Hiroshima and Nagasaki had to bear the results of the Japanese government's policies in World War II is controversial to this day. Yet as opposed to other nations who simply turned whole cities and hundreds of thousands of civilians into direct victims—we have utilized the right for self-defense in a phased manner that does not result in direct casualties.
Therefore, Israel has the right to cut off the electricity that it supplies to Qassam workshops, the fuel it provides, which is used by launching vehicles, and the cement used to build tunnels and posts that will be used to fire at IDF soldiers one of these days. Israel's right to cut off the supply of these goods cannot face any legal or moral controversy; it also cannot clash with common sense, which demands that we ensure that our enemies would not "enjoy" Israel's economic and strategic power while attacking it.
The price paid by the Gaza population will benefit Israel. This is a legitimate and moral price, and claims regarding a humanitarian disaster are unfounded. We are no longer in Gaza, we made sure not to leave behind anything, and we withdrew to the last inch. Now Gaza is an enemy state. As such, we must address its indiscriminate hostility when it attacks civilians in contradiction of all international conventions and basic morals.
A situation whereby Israel, which is under attack, is asked to maintain the Hamas regime firing at our citizens is unthinkable. The demands for the prevention of a humanitarian disaster should be directed to international aid organizations. We most certainly need to also call on Egypt, Gaza's good neighbor, to do something that is called for and natural for a neighbor that is not in war with Gaza like we are—allow humanitarian aid to go through.
Yet instead of this, we see growing international pressure on Israel to do something completely unreasonable and continue supporting its enemies.
Therefore, before we send our sons to fight in Gaza's alleyways, reinforced with cement that we have transferred to Gaza through crossing points, and before we expose them to the fire of weapons smuggled into the Strip from Egypt - we must try to topple the Hamas regime, and certainly to weaken it through sanctions, while hermetically sealing off the border between the two warring parties.
The impossible situation whereby the Palestinians continue to fire Qassams, while receiving electricity for their Qassam workshops and fuel used by vehicles that fire Qassams, is deluxe terrorism that fits well with the dictum: "The master of the house has gone mad."
In this case, we are the master of the house, and the price we are paying is the security of Sderot and Gaza-region residents, and the stability of the entire State of Israel."
I'd like to know why General Eitam isn't the Prime Minister of Israel?
Original article on Y-net.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at February 28, 2008 12:58 PM
Comments
Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.
1. No profanity.2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism. That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.
I'd like to know why General Eitam isn't the Prime Minister of Israel?
B/c he's religious?
Posted by: kishke at February 28, 2008 07:32 PM
Kishke:
Ya think?
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.seraphicpress.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at February 28, 2008 08:20 PM
Maybe also b/c he's an extreme kind of guy.
Posted by: kishke at February 28, 2008 09:09 PM
Robert, I am falling way behind on your blog...Have mercy!
I wish there was a way to read it on Shabbat!
Posted by: Baila at February 28, 2008 10:31 PM
Wait, I just had a brilliant thought! I'm going to print all of this....:)
Have a Shabbat Shalom.
Posted by: Baila at February 28, 2008 10:33 PM
Kishke:
Eitam is respected across the spectrum in Israel. Even those who disagree with him allow that he's an honest an incorruptable man. Even Olmert hugely respects Eitam.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at February 28, 2008 11:52 PM
Baila:
Sorry. I got carried away. You see, I have a strong feeling that Olmert is going to send ground troops into Gaza any day now. So, I'm desperately trying to make the case that this is not a great idea. israel should:
1. Deny power and fuel to Gaza.
2. Then use artillery and air power to reduce the threat from this terrorist state. This has worked in the past with the fascist regimes of Japan and Germany. There is no reason why the same methods should not be used on Gaza
3. Unless of course the Olmert govt. places more value on the lives of the citizens of Gaza then the citizens of Israel.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at February 29, 2008 12:00 AM
Robert,
Of course Olmert and his lackeys place much more value on the lives of Gazans way more than its own citizens.
If they really cared....and I truly believe they dont....then a response that makes sense would have been implemented weeks ago.
However, the grad rocket that hit Ashkelon seemed to have given Olmert a scare.
But, as you have pointed out, the response will probably solve nothing except forfeiting young Jewish lives.
Posted by: Lance at February 29, 2008 06:15 AM
He may be respected, but he is looked upon as an extremist right-winger, worse for being religious. Supposedly this is why he was passed over for promotion in the army.
Posted by: kishke at February 29, 2008 06:54 AM
1. Thanks for posting pictures more frequently on your blog. It enhances your website. 2. Thanks for including articles from news sources. My access to news sites is blocked by my company's blue coat web filter - it does a great job :{ . 3. I remember in the not-so-distant past that whenever terrorists would shell Israel, the Israelis would retaliate almost automatically - without hesitation - with planes and artillery to show who's boss. What happened to that policy, did it fall victim to political correctness?
Posted by: Joel at February 29, 2008 07:06 AM
Robert;
As per your request I sighted some references to my opinion regarding Israeli politics and economics.(SEE blog 27/2/08)
I did a quick google search(first pass search on 'EU sanctions,Israel') and found this link.
I don't have to prove my point about economics and peace in Israel, its a well known fact that Israel finds itself in a very precarious predicament with the EU trade.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1930513.stm
I'm sure I could find many other examples(I'm at work) maybe later.
Thanks
Posted by: Gregg at February 28, 2008 02:57 AM
Here's another link:
http://www.israelinsider.com/channels/diplomacy/articles/dip_0190.htm
Eventhough many of these sanctions do not actually materialize they are a constant threat to Israeli economics. And thus coerce political decision making.
I personnaly am willing to suffer economically to put an end to the arab threat but unfortunately the top industrialists are not!!
And neither is the PM.
Posted by: Gregg at February 28, 2008 03:43 AM
Posted by: Gregg at February 29, 2008 08:04 AM
Lance:
I have a sinking feeling that Olmert is going to order a ground invasion of Gaza, a strategy of which I am skeptical. As you know, I favor a complete blockade and then use of artillery and airpower.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at February 29, 2008 08:19 AM
Gregg:
Thanks so much for the information.
Before World War II, as late as 1939, Britain was selling Rolls Royce engines to the German Lutwaffe under the government of Neville Chamberlain. Winston Churchill protested vigorously to this policy in Parliament, but was overruled as a war monger. Trade was trade he was lectured.
And then, a year later, those fine Rolls Royce engines flew over England sowing death and destruction in the Battle of Britain.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at February 29, 2008 08:26 AM
Joel:
You're very welcome. I finally sat down and learned how to post pictures. Simple, when you know how to do it.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at February 29, 2008 08:29 AM
I have to differ with your military strategy Robert.
I feel that the ony real solution to the Hamas terror infrastructure is to uprooted from the ground up.
As we saw in Lebanon the terrorists are very well dug in and can withsatnd an aerial attack quiet well. Hizbullah withstood 1 month of constant bombardment and has rearmed to levels way above its prewar capacity.
It erroneous to believe that the peolple will rise up and oust Hamas once we cut power and food. The opposite will occur and Hamas will live to fight another day.
Posted by: gregg at February 29, 2008 08:31 AM
They should do both. Bomb the hell out of them and then go in. But they definitely should not do what led to the disaster in Jenin: that is, send troops in without bombing in order to spare enemy lives. They should be concerned more about the lives of their own soldiers than of enemy civilians. But of course they are not, b/c Olmert still has some uncollected brownie points out there somewhere, or so he thinks.
Posted by: kishke at February 29, 2008 08:54 AM
Gregg:
We can respectfully disagree.
Thanks so much. I don't expect the Gazans to rise up against Hamas. Ever. My strategy is to blockade Gaza, deny power and fuel to Gaza. Make them dependent on Egypt for all power and fuel. Each time they launch a missile, Israel responds with a barrage to civilian infrastructure. That's, er, proportionate.
Combatants who do not wear uniforms do not get a free pass by hiding among civilians. Nor do civilians get a free pass by allowing these non-uniformed, masked combatants to move freely in their streets. That's codified in the Geneva Conventions.
I admit, it's not a perfect solution, but it will hurt them a lot more than it will hurts us.
A ground invasion is an EU appeasement stunt that will lead to too many IDF casualties, and then in a few months missiles will rain from Gaza just like before.
I really hope I'm wrong.
Have a lovely Shabbos.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at February 29, 2008 08:54 AM
The story is told of General DeGaulle, who was in the USA at some time in the early 1940's I believe. He had a strong desire to see his fellow soldier Pershing. The State Department , with some difficulty, located him in a nursing home in upstate New York. A very old man by that time, unaware of the goings-on of the war, was introduced to DeGaulle, and asked "How is my old friend Petain?".
DeGaulle answered "The last time I saw him he was well."
Posted by: yehupitz at February 29, 2008 10:58 AM
Unleash hell. Rain fire from the sky. Pound and punish until they dare not look up and then pound some more.
Until they cannot conceive of using violence this will not end.
Said with more sadness than words allow.
Posted by: Jack at March 2, 2008 07:40 PM
Jack:
Jack, Jack? is that you? Hmmm, you're beginning to sound like, y'know, yours truly.
Sans last sentence.
Nothing sad about saving Jewish lives. For in the end, that's what we're talking about.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at March 2, 2008 10:02 PM
I am a Taurus. Takes a while to wake the bull, but once you do....
Posted by: Jack at March 3, 2008 07:18 AM
Jack:
Welcome aboard!
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at March 3, 2008 12:50 PM
Israel dreams of Peace. And so its leadership is blinded by that dream. The Left-leaning government dreams of World-wide acclamation. And so its leadership tries anything it can to not do what must be done to stop the attacks from Israel's enemies.
While Olmert's government continues Israel is vulnerable. Until Israelis see that accomadation is impossible with the Muslims they will never see peace. Only the iron fist can bring peace. And it must be wielded by Israel.
Posted by: benning at March 6, 2008 03:18 AM